Minister of Interior Rauf Aregbesola has said the late Alaafin of Oyo Oba Lamidi Adeyemi remained a strong force in the efforts to settle the rift between him and his principal, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
Aregbesola said the monarch was still on this efforts with others until he joined his ancestors on Saturday.
In his response to the passing of Alaafin, Aregbesola in a statement early Sunday, said his last encounter with him was on March 7 at the 60th birthday event for a former Commissioner for Works in Oyo State, Dr. Yunus Akintunde.
Aregbesola said that the monarch on that day remained his “effervescent self “ adding that he “was an elegant and colorful monarch.”
“The curtain has fallen on an inimitable era for a preeminent Yoruba traditional ruler whose forebears presided over the most powerful and most advanced empire in Africa south of the Sahara.”
Describing the monarch as a “bridge between the modern,” Aregbesola said “He encapsulated the totality of the recorded Yoruba history dating back to the 11th century. He was also urbane and cosmopolitan; moving seamlessly within the two worlds. “
Aregbesola said Alaafin had a special liking for him saying the monarch was a father and a mentor.
He said this was one of the reasons he honoured him with the title “Omoluabi of Yorubaland.”
The minister recalled that as Governor of Osun, his administration had organized the first Oodua Children Day where Alaafin and the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade met physically.
“They both acknowledged that it was the first time they would be together in a public outing.” He recalled.